Method for cleaning and transporting rubber stoppers and apparatus for cleaning and transporting rubber stoppers

Abstract

A method for cleaning and transporting rubber stoppers includes the steps of ejecting pressurized water, fed from a water storage division, from a jet nozzle to form a jet stream flowing into a negative pressure-creating pipe for suction to create a negative pressure inside the negative pressure-creating pipe; transporting rubber stoppers placed in a storage section to the negative pressure-creating pipe through a cleaning inlet port placed under the storage section using the negative pressure; cleaning the rubber stoppers with the jet stream while the rubber stoppers are being transported through the negative pressure-creating pipe and then a transportation pipe directly connected to the negative pressure-creating pipe; transporting the rubber stoppers to a water separation section to remove water from the rubber stoppers; and transporting the rubber stoppers to a stocker for storing the cleaned rubber stopper.

1 . A method for cleaning and transporting rubber stoppers, comprising the steps of: 
 ejecting pressurized water, fed from a water storage division, from a jet nozzle to form a jet stream flowing into a negative pressure-creating pipe for suction to create a negative pressure inside the negative pressure-creating pipe;    transporting rubber stoppers placed in a storage section to the negative pressure-creating pipe through a cleaning inlet port placed under the storage section using the negative pressure;    cleaning the rubber stoppers with the jet stream while the rubber stoppers are being transported through the negative pressure-creating pipe and then a transportation pipe directly connected to the negative pressure-creating pipe;    transporting the rubber stoppers to a water separation section to remove water from the rubber stoppers; and    transporting the rubber stoppers to a stocker for storing the cleaned rubber stopper.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of feeding back the cleaned rubber stoppers, placed in the stocker or treated with the water separation section, to the storage section, thereby cleaning and transporting the rubber stoppers through the negative pressure-creating pipe and the transportation pipe a plurality of times.  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus for cleaning and transporting rubber stoppers, comprising: 
 a storage section, having a cleaning inlet port placed under the storage section, for storing rubber stoppers;    a cleaning/transporting unit connected to the cleaning inlet port; and    a water separation section for removing water from the rubber stoppers cleaned with the cleaning/transporting unit,    wherein the cleaning/transporting unit includes a negative pressure-creating pipe for suction and a jet nozzle for ejecting pressurized water fed from a water storage division to form a jet stream flowing into the negative pressure-creating pipe to create a negative pressure inside the negative pressure-creating pipe and the rubber stoppers placed in the storage section are discharged through the cleaning inlet port using the negative pressure.    
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising a means for recovering the rubber stoppers, treated with the water separation section, stored in the storage section, wherein the recovering means includes a negative pressure-creating pipe for recovery and a jet nozzle for ejecting pressurized water to form a jet stream flowing into the negative pressure-creating pipe to create a negative pressure inside the negative pressure-creating pipe and the rubber stoppers placed in the storage section are transported using the negative pressure.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the jet stream ejected into the negative pressure-creating pipe is surrounded by an air layer and thereby converted into a multiphase jet stream.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the jet stream ejected into the negative pressure-creating pipe is surrounded by an air layer and thereby converted into a multiphase jet stream.